What is EMDR?
You've probably heard the hype about Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, or EMDR for short, but what is it and what's with the hype? The main theory driving this comprehensive, trauma-focused therapy is that any of the present-day issues we experience, whether it be depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, persistent self-doubt, feelings of inadequacy, phobias, perfectionism, OCD, etc., are a result of and therefore directly tied to disturbing memories from childhood that were never sufficiently processed. When these kinds of events happen and go unresolved, they can get “locked” in place in the form of images, thoughts, beliefs, and feelings, thereby causing you to see things around you through that lens. Usually this isn’t fully conscious, leading people to often misconclude that present-day problems that they experience are “new” issues.
As such, the focus in EMDR therapy is on processing the memory or memories during which these present-day concerns were first born—addressing the issue(s) from the root rather than the "branches," or those more recent experiences that are essentially triggering an earlier memory feeding it. The EMDR therapy process typically starts with identifying the branches and using techniques to bring to surface the roots that are targeted for the reprocessing phase; combined with the compassionate therapeutic space, the bilateral stimulation that the use of eye movements facilitate during the reprocessing phase seem to allow your brain to access the memory network where the disturbing memories live in order for them to be adaptively processed. The experience of EMDR shows you that your brain is far more capable of healing itself than you ever believed.
As someone who has observed its magic as both a psychotherapist and personal recipient of EMDR, I can attest to the high probability of EMDR therapy having a profound impact on your growth and healing journey. I'm also excited to share that New Harbinger Publications has invited me to publish a book about EMDR for Depression, which you can now pre-order by clicking here!
